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          Nets-Sixers through the tweets of Kevin Durant

          • William E. Ricks
          Jan 26, 2023, 03:47 AM

          NBA Rivals Week was in full effect Wednesday night between the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center.

          The Nets took the Sixers down to the final moments, but Philly emerged victorious 137-133. Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey led the way with 27 points, while center Joel Embiid and guard James Harden scored 26 and 23, respectively.

          Brooklyn didn't have one of its biggest stars, however. Nets forward Kevin Durant didn't play because of an MCL sprain in his right knee suffered Jan. 8 against the Miami Heat. Durant is expected to miss a month, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

          Durant didn't play, but that doesn't mean the Nets superstar wasn't tuned in to the action. He took to Twitter to offer his commentary on his team's matchup Wednesday night.

          Here are Durant's best tweets from the Nets-Sixers game.

          Support good defense

          Late in the first quarter, Brooklyn center Nic Claxton rose for an emphatic block on Embiid. The two exchanged words shortly after, which resulted in both players receiving technical fouls.

          Durant enjoyed his teammate's rejection of the Philadelphia big man.

          Sources said

          Given the recent history these teams share, it shouldn't surprise anyone that things got a little chippy early on. Four technical fouls were called in the first quarter, and the frame lasted 34 minutes in real time.

          Durant's "sources" gave him the scoop on how long the game would last.

          Missing the smack talk

          The back and forth didn't stop at Claxton and Embiid. Sixers big man Montrezl Harrell got into a verbal exchange with Nets guard Kyrie Irving in the second quarter. Harrell was given a technical foul for his words.

          The chatter made Durant reminisce about the times he chirped at Harrell and Embiid.

          "Damn, I miss talking s--- to Joel and Montrez," Durant tweeted.

          That's not it, Joel

          The Sixers had a 14-point lead in the third quarter, and Embiid extended it to 16 with a tough layup after being fouled by Joe Harris. He converted the and-1 free throw to push the Sixers' lead to 17.

          Embiid had an animated celebration after the and-1 layup, which didn't impress Durant.